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7.542%
5-year ARM“
On Monday, August 26, 2024, the average APR on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 1 basis point to 6.260%. The average APR on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 1 basis point to 5.415% and the average APR for a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) fell 2 basis points to 7.542%, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 17 basis points lower than one week ago and 105 basis points lower than one year ago.
A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percent. Rates are expressed as annual percentage rate, or APR.
Product | Interest Rate | APR |
---|---|---|
30-year fixed-rate | 6.183% | 6.260% |
20-year fixed-rate | 5.875% | 5.973% |
15-year fixed-rate | 5.285% | 5.415% |
10-year fixed-rate | 5.156% | 5.370% |
7-year ARM | 6.413% | 7.425% |
5-year ARM | 6.502% | 7.542% |
3-year ARM | 8.125% | 8.355% |
30-year fixed-rate FHA | 4.997% | 5.806% |
30-year fixed-rate VA | 5.406% | 5.671% |
Data source: ©Zillow, Inc. 2006 - 2021. Use is subject to the Terms of Use
A 5-year ARM is an adjustable-rate mortgage with an interest rate that stays the same for the first five years. After five years are up, the interest rate can change periodically with the broader market.
A 5-year ARM typically begins with a lower introductory rate than a fixed-rate loan has. After the five years are over, the rate can adjust up or down every six months. The rate adjustments are based on a benchmark index, which in most cases is the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR). The benchmark rate tends to rise when the economy is strong and fall when the economy weakens.
Different lenders may refer to the 5-year ARM by different names. It's sometimes called the 5/6 ARM, where the "5" refers to the starting fixed-rate period in years and the "6" refers to how often in months the rate is adjusted afterward. It's sometimes called the 5y/6m or 5yr/6mo ARM. It used to be called the 5/1 ARM because it was adjusted annually before regulatory changes were made.
NerdWallet’s mortgage comparison tool can help you find competitive 5-year ARM rates today, whether you are buying a home or refinancing. In the filters above, enter details about the loan you’re looking for, and you can see rate quotes without providing personal information.
A 5-year ARM makes sense if you expect to refinance your mortgage or sell your house before the introductory rate expires. You may be able to qualify for a larger loan because of the ARM's low introductory rate. Note that the interest rate and monthly payment could climb substantially if the index rate rises anytime after the first five years are up.
Index: The benchmark rate that, when added to the margin, yields each six-month period's interest rate. Most ARMs use the 30-day average secured overnight financing rate (SOFR), which reflects market conditions.
Margin: A number of percentage points that the lender adds to the index to arrive at the interest rate that you'll pay during a six-month period. For example, an index rate of 5.3% plus a margin of 2.75 percentage points would mean your interest rate would be 8.05%.
Rate cap: The maximum amount your loan’s interest rate can go up or down the first time it adjusts and each time thereafter.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
Freddie Mac. SOFR-Indexed ARMs. Accessed Jul 3, 2024.
Bank of America. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage & Rates. Accessed Jul 3, 2024.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What is the difference between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loan?. Accessed Jul 3, 2024.